Voters Let Volusia Take Over Beaches

November 6, 1986|By Rick Tonyan and Pat LaMee of The Sentinel Staff

Voters decided to give the Volusia County Council control of all 48 miles of beaches in the county and stunned officials of municipalities who were fighting to keep control of beaches within their city limits.

Unofficial returns show that the beach takeover, authorized through an amendment to the county's home rule charter, was approved by a margin of 65.6 percent to 34.4 percent, or 50,447 votes for the charter change to 26,503 against it.

Elections results still were being canvassed and 5,357 absentee ballots were being counted late Wednesday. The absentees could not alter the outcome of the charter amendment vote.

Four east Volusia cities sued to keep the amendment off the ballot. On Wednesday, officials in two of those cities -- Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach Shores -- said they may drop their protests.

Ormond Beach Assistant City Manager John Leemkuil and Daytona Beach Shores Mayor Don Large said each of their city commissions will meet next week to decide what to do because of the amendment's approval.

Voters in southeast Volusia were the only ones to turn against the amendment. New Smyrna Beach Mayor George Musson said his area's rejection of the amendment may inspire the city to continue fighting against it. Ponce Inlet Mayor Clayton Perreault said his city also may continue legal and political battles against the takeover.

The amendment, which takes effect Jan. 1, gives the county council the power to establish uniform regulations, ramp tolls and other policies governing beaches. A Beach Trust Commission, made up of representatives from the six oceanfront municipalities, would advise the council on setting the policies.

Supporters of the amendment said they hope the council takeover will end decades of conflicting regulations governing driving and other beach activities among beachfront municipalities.

They said the vote proves county residents are disgruntled with each municipality trying to hold onto its political turf and rule its beach as it sees fit.

Municipal officials described the amendment as a disguised attempt to consolidate city governments with the county. Voters last year defeated an attempt to consolidate seven east Volusia municipalities into one city.